Can-filling machine



Sept. 18, 1923.

1,468,254 c. H. AYARS CAN FILLING MACHINE Filed May 6, 1922 4Sheets-Sheet 1 A? 1 I i? \l l in? z: 9 f F 682i l I I z i l 6 J a i ii ii CVH. AYARS CAN FILLING MACHINE Sept. 18,1923. I 1,468,254

Filed May 6. 1922 4 sheefs sheet 2 Sept. 18, 1923.

c. H. AYARS CAN FILLING MACHINE Filed May 6. 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept.18 1923.

0. H. AYARS CAN FILLING MACHINE Filed May 6, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 4CHARLES H. AYABS, OF SAL, JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO AYARS MACHINE COH- PANY, FSALEM, NEW JERSEY.

CAN-FILIJBIG MACHINE.

Application filed may 6, 1922. Serial No. 558,868.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES H. AYARS,

a citizen of the United States, residing at- Salem, in the county ofSalem and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Can-Filling Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

In Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,073,067 granted meSeptember 9, 1913, I have shown and described a can filling machineespecially adapted for filling cans with liquid or semi-liquid materialsin which there is a series of two chambered measuring shells, thechambers opening into each other at the lower end; plungers adapted toreciprocate in each chamber; cam-tracks by which the plungers arereciprocated, and non-automatic means for displacing a selected sectionof one cam-track so that, if the shaft which operates the rotatingelements of the machine be revolved when there are no cams upon the canseats, the rollers which engage with the cam-track will follow a by-passand leave one plun er in a position which closes the outlet of t emeasuring shells so that the material will not be discharged when no canis in position to receive it, but is forced back into the tank.

Automatic mechanism, for replacing the movable sgction of the cam-track,actuated by pressure exerted through the cams has been in use for someyears. Such mechanism is defective because the movable section of thecam-track is yieldingly held in alignment with the stationary sectionand when the positively driven roller engages with the movable sectionit exerts a force tending to swing said section out of alignment withthe stationary section and toward its nonengaging position. Thisforce istransmitted to the positively held can and is often sufficient to dentor mar the can.

The object of this invention is to provide automatic means for lockingthe track sections in alignment while the plunger operating roller ispasing over the movable section and automatic means for releasing themovable section from the domination of the lock while the roller ispassing over the stationary section thereby preventing trackdisplacement and providing against in'ury to cans by re-action of theforce exerte by the roller.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation partly in Referring to thedrawings, represents part of the frame of the machine, 11 the tank fromwhich the material to be canned is fed to. the measuring shells, 12 ameasuring shell consisting of two chambers, 13 and 14, communicatingwith each other through a port 15, the chamber 14 having a dischargenozzle 16 through which the material goes to the cans, 17 a. plungermounted to reciprocate in chamber 13 and 18 a plunger mounted toreciprocate in chamber 14. The plunger 17 is carried by a rod 19connected to a bracket 20 carried by a vertical rod 21 to which issecured a bracket 22 carrying a roller 23 adapted to travel on a camtrack 24 and cause the plunger to reciprocate in its chamber. Theplunger 18 is carried by a rod 25 connected to a bracket 26 carried by arod 27 to which is secured a bracket 28 carrying a roller 29 adapted totravel on a cam track'30 and cause the plunger to reciprocate in itschamber Cam track 30 is made in two sections 30 and 30, the latter beingmounted that it may be swung in or out of alignment with the stationarysection 30. The movable section is carried by a depending arm supportedby a lug 36 pivotally connected with a lug 37 fixed to the frame. Asprin 38,

having one end attached to an arm 39 xed to the frame and the other endattached to a lug 40 on the depending arm 35, serves to hold the movablesection of the cam track out of alignment With the stationary section asshown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The lower end of the depending arm carriesabolt 41 taking through a link 42 which is pivotally attached at 43 to alever arm 44 pivotally mounted at 45 on a bracket 46 extendin from theframe. This leverarm is norma 1y held, by spring 38, in position toengage the cans as they reach their filling position as shown in Figure2. I ressure of the can, as it is further rotated will force the leverarm, and consequently l nk 42 and arm 35, outwardly thereby forclng themovable section 30 of the cam track into alignment with thestationarysection 30. The roller 29 will then ride upon the track and plunger 18will reciprocate in chamber 14. If there be no can in position to Iengage the lever arm 44 it will retain its position; the movable sectionof the cam track will be held out of alignment wlth the stationarysection; the roller29 Wlll pass under the stationary section, andplunger 18 will be left at its low position closing the discharge outletof the measuring cells. When the positively driven roller engages withthe movable section of the track it exerts a force tending to swing saidsection out of alignment with the stationary section and toward itsnon-engaging position. This force is transmitted through depending arm35 and link 42 to the positively held can and is often sufficient todent or mar the cans. To guard against such displacement of the movablesection of the cam track and against such injury to the cans I providethe mechanism hereinafter described. The movable section is rovided witha lug 47 adapted to engage with the outer side of the stationary sectionas the two are brought into alignment. A lever 48 preferably of the bellcrank type has, at one end, a beveled face 49 of the latch type whichextends into the path of travel of lug 47 and is spr ng held in aposition adjacent to the outer side of the stationary section of thetrack so that as lug 47 approaches the stationary sectlon it willdepress the latch face, and as lug 47 contacts with the stationarysection the latch will spring up and lock the lug and through it themovable section of track in allgned position.

The bell crank lever, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, is fulcrumed at 50 ona bracket 51 supported by the frame and the short end of the lever ispivoted at 52 to an upwardly extending link, 53, which at its upper endis pivotally connected by a bolt 54 with one end of an arm 55. This armis carried by a sleeve 56 which is pivotally mounted on a bolt 57carried by a bracket 58 secured to the frame. A shoe, or finger 59, alsocarried by sleeve 56, extends over the stationary section of the camtrack and inclines downwardly into the path of travel of the roller 29.An arm 60 extending from bracket 51 is connected by a spring 61 with oneend of the pivot bolt 54.

As a roller passes fromthe movable to the stationary section of the camtrack the parts will be in the position shown in full lines in Figure 5with the-latch face in engagement and holding the section in alignment.As the roller continues in its path of travel it engages with and liftsthe shoe 59 thereby, through sleeve 56, lifting the outer end of the arm55 which lifts link 53 and the short arm of the bell-crank lever,against the tension of spring 61, thereby withdrawmg the latch from itslocking position and positionin the parts as shown by dotted lines 1nigure 5. When the roller passes from under the sleeve 59 the tension ofspring 61 restores the bell crank lever to its normal position with thelatch in position for agaln engaging with lug 47 as the movable sectlonis swung into alignment.

While I have described my invention as taking a particular form, it willbe understood that the various parts of my inventlon may be changedwithout departing from the spirit thereof, and hence I do not limitmyself to the precise construction set forth, but consider that I am atliberty to make such changes and alterations as fairl come within thescope of the append claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In a can filling machine, a cam trackhaving a stationary and a movable section normally held out of alignmentwith the stationary section; a lever arm adapted to be engaged by a canas it reaches its filling position; connections between the lever armand the movable section of the cam track whereby movement of the canswings the movable section into alignment with the stationary sectionand a yieldingly mounted latch adapted to engage with the movablesection when it reaches its aligned position and hold it in alignment.

2. In a can filling machine, a cam track having a stationary and amovable section normally held out of alignment with the stationarysection; a lever arm adapted to be engaged by a can as it reaches itsfilling position; connections between the lever arm and'the movablesection of the cam track whereby movement of the can swings the movablesection into alignment with the stationary section; automatic means forlocking the sections in alignment, and automatic means for releasing thelock.

3. In a can filling machine, a cam track having a stationary section anda movable section normally held out of alignment with' the stationarysection; means for automatically swinging the movable section intoalignment with the stationary section; a roller adapted to travel on thetrack; a spring pressed latch adapted to engage with the movable sectionas it reaches its position of alignmentand lock it in alignment, and

means actuated by the roller for releasin the lock.

4. In a can filling machine, a cam track having a stationary section anda movable section normally held out of alignment with the stationarysection; means for automatically swinging the movable section intoalignment with the stationary section; a roller adapted to travel on thetrack; a spring pressed latch adapted to lock the movable section inalignment; a p-ivotally mounted shoe extending into the path of theroller and connections between the shoe and the latch whereby as theshoe is lifted by the roller the latch is disengaged.

5, In a can filling machine, a cam track having a stationary section anda movable section normally held out of alignment with the stationarysection; means for automatically swin 'ng the movable section intoalignment wit the stationary section; a roller adapted to travel on thetrack; a lever carrying at one end a latch part adapted to lock themovable section in alignment; an arm pivotally mounted on a fixed art ofthe frame; a link pivotally connecting the lever and the arm; a springnormally holding the lever in its locking position, and a shoe adaptedto lift the arm and to be lifted by the roller thereby disengaging thelook.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES H. AYARS.

